Councillors in Richmondshire are being urged to make up their minds on how they want to find the money to pay for a new council headquarters.

For months, the council has been discussing selling two car parks in Richmond to housing developers to pay for a new building.

But the proposal has proved unpopular with many people in the town.

Now the council's leading officials say a decision needs to be made on whether the car parks are to be sold.

Safety grounds

Their report will be discussed at a special meeting of the resources committee on 22 June which is being held at the Zetland Centre in Richmond so as many members of the public as possible can attend.

Two previous bids to hold the debate at other venues had to be abandoned on safety grounds when so many people tried to get in.

The council wants to move its network of offices from the centre of Richmond to a new building at Colburn near Catterick, on the basis that many of its staff are currently working in cramped conditions.

Market town

To raise the £4m needed it has been suggested that the Yorke Square and Station Road car parks in Richmond should be sold.

But Richmond Town Council, local residents and the business community have expressed concerns about the loss of car and coach parking in the market town.

The officers are recommending the council should proceed with the sale despite the objections.

But they add that council members may also want to consider borrowing the money to finance the new headquarters or doing a deal with a private developer to build and then lease back the new offices.